I’m about to take a couple of weeks off to go and get married (can’t say that’s a sentence I’ve ever typed before) but I’ll be leaving you in the very capable hands of our senior editors Lucy and Adella. In the meantime, I’m planning on cramming in as many wedding movies as possible. Bridesmaids, Bride Wars and 27 Dresses are my top tier go-tos, but what are yours? Hit reply to this email to share your fave wedding movies, and I’ll see you on the other side of bride!

“Mawma is cancer free.”
Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has shared a health update after undergoing major surgery, including a hysterectomy, to treat cervical cancer.

1.6 million.
The record-breaking crowd that watched Calvin Harris DJ from a carnival float in São Paulo, Brazil in February, according to Guinness World Records. Tickets to the Scottish producer’s first headline Australian tour sold out completely during this week’s pre-sales, prompting organisers to announced additional shows.

Channing Tatum has denied running ‘Nonya Bidness’, an anonymous Instagram account whose only follower was him. Fans spotted it criticising his exes Zoë Kravitz and Jenna Dewan while calling Tatum “so genuine.”

Aussie singer-songwriter Tones And I will no longer provide the pre-game entertainment for next Sunday’s NRL Grand Final.

Early reporting suggested Tones had refused to play her 2019 number one hit ‘Dance Monkey’. NRL boss Peter V’landys blamed “artistic differences” for the fall-out, while Tones has cited “prior commitments”.

So, what’s really going on?

Big sporting events have a history of musical acts to welcome the action, or provide some mid-game entertainment.

The NFL’s Super Bowl half-time sets the global standard in sporting entertainment. The AFL (then the VFL) was the first football code to bring a similar tradition to Australia, with crooner Barry Crocker performing before the 1977 Grand Final. In 1986, the NRL (then the NSWRL) followed suit, with performances from Neighbours stars Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

Other than the iconic appearance by Tina Turner at the 1993 NSWRL Grand Final (chills), it wasn’t until the 2000s that performances routinely attracted big-name artists from around the world. Notable stars include Jimmy Barnes, Olivia Newton-John, INXS, the Veronicas, Macklemore, the Kid Laroi, and Teddy Swims in 2025.

While Byron Bay busker-turned-chart-topper Tones And I was rumoured to be providing the pre-game entertainment, the NRL announced this week there would be no show.

Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys told The Today Show on Nine the NRL had been “toying with the idea” of scrapping entertainment “for years”.

V’landys said that “rather than spending $100,000 a minute over 11 minutes on a performer,” the league will invest $1 million in “grassroots” rugby league for "underprivileged kids”.

Responding to rumours that the decision was due to Tones refusing to play ‘Dance Monkey’, V’landys said: “I don’t want to get into the negotiations… we love Tones And I,” he said, adding that “artistic differences couldn’t be resolved”.

In a statement shared with the ABC, Tones’ management team said “an offer was presented” to the singer earlier this month but “nothing was signed or confirmed in writing.” They explained: “Tones had a prior commitment with Macklemore in America”.

Macklemore’s next confirmed show is in Colorado on 22 October, more than two weeks after the NRL Grand Final. There is nothing published by Macklemore, the venue, or event promoters addressing Tones And I’s inclusion in the show - however, the “commitment with Macklemore” may not be a tour appearance.

Tones’ website says her next tour date is the Deniliquin Ute Muster on 3 October, the day before the Grand Final. Deniliquin is an eight hour drive from Sydney.

For those still wanting a live music grand final moment, Kylie Minogue will grace the MCG this Saturday for the AFL Grand Final.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

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A merger between two of Hollywood’s biggest studios is expected to proceed after a settlement was reached on Monday.

Paramount was sued by 12 U.S. states in July, who argued the merger would raise prices and lead to fewer films being produced.

A settlement deal will now require Paramount to increase their production investment in order to buy Warner Bros.

Here’s how your favourite films and TV shows will be affected.

Warner Bros. Discovery is the media company behind the Harry Potter franchise, DC films and Looney Tunes. It also owns the streaming service HBO Max and cable channels including CNN, TNT, Discovery and Food Network.

After years of financial troubles, Warner Bros. agreed to sell its studios and HBO Max to Netflix for $US82.7 billion ($AU116.6 billion) in December 2025.

A few days later, Paramount swooped in with a bid for the entire company. Their offer eventually rose to $US111 billion ($AU156 billion), and Netflix walked away.

Paramount is the media company behind box office blockbusters like the Mission: Impossible franchise and Transformers. It also owns the streaming service Paramount+, the TV Network CBS and cable channels including MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

David Ellison has run Paramount since 2025. His father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is its biggest shareholder and a financial backer and advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump.

In July, 12 U.S. state Attorneys General (led by California) launched legal action in an attempt to block the merger, arguing it would reduce competition in Hollywood.

They claimed the merger would leave four of the five major film distributors with control of more than 85% of U.S. cinema releases, and see two companies controlling 59% of cable channels.

The lawsuit argued this would lead to higher prices, fewer films in cinemas, and less variety for audiences.

The states have now reached a settlement with Paramount, paving the way for the merger to go ahead. The deal includes a commitment by Paramount to produce:

If it fails to do so, Paramount must sell off Miramax Studios and pay $US30 million ($AU42 million) per missed film towards healthcare and retirement funds of various creative unions.

According to the settlement, Paramount must also spend at least an extra $US1.5 billion ($AU2.1b) on U.S. film production over five years, on top of what it spent in 2025.

Paramount must operate two funds: One to purchase independent films, and one to provide training and career development for workers who lose their jobs because of the merger. Additionally, Paramount must continue to offer a free streaming service (like Pluto TV).

A News Editorial Independence Board is required to be set up to ensure the independence of CNN and CBS News. The appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the compliance with the settlement was also agreed.

The settlement is pending approval by the court. A judge will hear arguments on Thursday (U.S. time) but may not make a decision then.

Variety reported Ellison informed staff the merger would be completed in “approximately two weeks”.

In Australia, Paramount own Network 10, 10Play, and Paramount+. No changes to the network or streaming services have been announced.

Paramount reportedly plans to combine Paramount+ and HBO Max into one streaming service.

Several union representatives have welcomed the settlement clauses addressing production and job concerns. However, the Writers Guild of America suggested it was cornered into settling. With no backing from U.S. states, it said “a complex antitrust lawsuit would cost millions of dollars to pursue through trial.”

William Tong, Attorney General of Connecticut, said he pushed for CNN to be sold as part of the settlement, citing independence in journalism. Tong told the Columbia Journalism Review that this was a view shared with the Attorneys General of New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

Anna Gomez, the commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, said she was “disappointed” by the settlement “paving the way for another massive media consolidation deal”.

Reporting by Adam Wan.